Hatjs



(No Model.) I

- C. M. BENNINGHAUS.

' INDICATOR FUR HOTELS.

Patented Mar; 27, 1888.

N4 PETERS, PllnhS-Lilhognphgn Washinglon. u:c.

522 8 EI um m wiivwooe o my invention.

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

CHAUNCEY M. BENNINGHAUS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

INDICATOR FOR HOTELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,166, dated March 27. 1888.

l Application filed November 19, 1887. Serial No. 255,566. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHAUNCEY M. BENNING- HAUS, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators for Hotels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inventi'0n,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates'to indicators for hotels, and has for its object to furnish a device of this class which will, as will be fully understood by the following description, save much annoyance and discomfort to guests and considerable expense to proprietors of hotels.

With these objects in view my invention consists in the improved combination,arrangement, and construction of devices, which I shall now proceed to fully describe, and afterward specifically point out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a front view of an indicator made in accordance with Fig. 2 is a view of the same with a portion left off and the sign changed from the negative position of Fig. 1 to an affirmative position. Fig. 3 is a rear view of the complete device, showing the working mechanism; and Fig. 4 is a view of a slightlymodified construction, the only change being that the changeable signs move vertically instead of horizontally.

Like letters of reference mark thesame parts in all the figures of the drawings.

When a traveler or other transient guest stops for a few days at a hotel, he would generally prefer that the bed-linen be not changed daily, as it almost universally is in first-class houses, for the reason that newly-laundered linen isgenerally' damp and uncomfortable, and as a matter of saving the landlord would prefer to have it remain. It very often happens, however, that the guest neglects to say upon leaving the house in the morning whether he will return at night or not. Even if he does notify the clerk, the chances are that the regular routine of changing will be carried out and he will have damp sheets every night.

My invention is intended to indicate to the chambermaid when she enters the room whether the occupant will return that night and consequently whether the bed-linen shall be replaced or changed.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A is the main frame of the indicator, having a central opening through which an inclosed sign will show, said opening being generally of two parts, as at a and a.

B is a sign placed in the frame containing,

as here shown, the words Not be here tonight. This sign is not ordinarily movable, and may be differently lettered to convey the message desired, the only essential being that the negative word must be so located that it can be readily hidden.

O is a movable sign bearing, in this instance, I the word Will, for the purpose of changing the negative sign B into an affirmative one. This sign 0 moves in suitable ways in the frame A, and is provided with a button or hanowing to the tension of the spring E, until it.

is desired to return the same in applying force to the pin f. The mechanism for this purpose consists of a spiral or other spring, E, se-

cured at e' to the frame and at e to the sign, a spring latch or catch, F, secured to the frame at f and having an opening, f, in one end, said end projecting over the edge of the sign D, a button, 9, whose stem projects through the frame in coincidence with the hole f, and a pin or button, f, on the inner side of the sign to engage automatically with the catch F in the hole f when the sign is in its normal position.

The operation will be easily understood,and

is as followsnIf the guest proposes to remain at night, he moves the sign 0 to indicate that fact and pushes the knob 9, allowing the spring Eto draw the sign O K into view. The signs being in this position, will fully inform the chambermaid. The indicators are placed,with

proper instructions, in a conspicuous place on the wall of the room. Notice to the clerk will not be necessary,and all the hereinbefore-mentioned troubles will be avoided.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In an indicator of the character described, the combination of a frame having an intermediate fixed part bearing a desired inscription and horizontally-sliding parts moving in ways at the ends of said frame, one of the same being normally concealed, said sliding parts having such other inscription as will, when one or both of such sliding parts are brought to view and in conjunction with the intermediate part, respectively, complete a sentence and thereby convey a message, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an indicator, the combination, with the frame A, having openings a a, the said opening a being provided with a stationary and movable sign, B C, the one movable over the other to screen a portion of the inscription GHAUNCEY M. BENNINGHAUS.

Witnesses:

S. BRASHEARS, HARRY L. AMER. 

